The Mount Ousley Interchange is one major transport project being delivered by the NSW Government for the Illawarra – but we need more, Wollongong councillors say. Photo: Transport for NSW.
“Put a rocket under them,” was Wollongong councillor Ann Martin’s response to the latest NSW Government plan for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region’s transport network.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) released the Draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan for public exhibition earlier this year.
It’s a 20-year vision that outlines more than 45 actions and 28 initiatives across roads, public transport, walking and cycling, freight access and land use integration.
What it doesn’t include, much to the frustration of several Wollongong City councillors, is a commitment to passenger rail on the Maldon-Dombarton line or improvements for the M1 between Shellharbour and Wollongong.
The council voted to make a submission to TfNSW about the plan, and were unanimous about the need for greater public transport investment.
“This is an underwhelming strategy,” Cr Martin said.
“We have worked hard on our relationship with south-west Sydney, and I cannot understand why those who have drafted this plan have not noticed the huge population growth there.
“The new airport is all but functional and we have an unfinished railway line, and an inability to address the issues of the M1 between Shellharbour and Wollongong that affect all around Dapto.
“It’s not our road, yet we always fill in the gaps.
“Our city is moving forward and we are doing it with class and innovation and a sense of our community and we are being let down by these sorts of strategies.
“Put a rocket under them.”
Councillors welcomed the strategy’s acknowledgement of the importance of the crumbling Windang Bridge in the region’s transport network.
Councillor David Brown said the council had focussed heavily on transport over the past several terms, and said overall the report aligned with the council’s goals.
“It’s important to note projects have been delivered via previous versions of this plan,” he said.
“We can expect some of the 45 projects on this will be advanced. It reflects importance of bus routes, high frequency, all-day public transport corridors and intermodal exchange.
“We say the Wollongong station precinct lends itself to urban density, and the NSW Government health precinct plan champions density adjacent to that.
“I’m happy to see this go forward.”
Better connections between Port Kembla and the wider region, as well as south-west Sydney, was mentioned by several councillors as crucial to the long-term economic growth of the city, for freight, as well as tourism and accessibility.
Councillors Ryan Morris, Jess Whittaker and Richard Martin said they would like to see more done on supporting connections between Thirroul and Helensburgh.
They urged novel solutions to make it easier for residents to get up and down “the hill” via public transport.
“It’s fantastic to see an on-demand bus service in the draft,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to local businesses who would happily return the price of a fare off their product if that went ahead.”
The motion to forward a submission to TfNSW about the draft was unanimous.
The draft submission can be found beginning on page six of this document.
